Hi guys,
I’m new to the forum and this is actually my first post! I’m a watch enthusiast and love watches :p now I got myself a rolex sub date in steel last year and am already itching to get myself another jewel soon, though don’t really know when that’s going to actually happen. And Panerai looks intriguing to me hence am here. I have a few doubts as has been researching since couple of days now. I love the domed sapphire crystal look but isn’t it risky? Like I get thoughts already of my hand banging on some wall etc and cracking the beautiful crystal, god forbid. The domed crystal looks so much better and attractive than flat crystal though. But just this concern.

Also love the Pam00233 and Pam00270 look. They are the best ones and gettable in near future, being not super expensive, but the 270 has been discontinued for 533?! Like why? 533 doesn’t even have a domed crystal? 233 is great looker too but has a manual winding mechanism and the difference isn’t much between them then might as well get the 270. But since its already been discontinued, the current inventory won’t last much anywhere I guess and the prices might go high on those last few pieces.

I love the idea of a 44mm watch with black snadwhiched dial, domed crystal with 8-10 days power reserve and a gmt function. With a brown suede or alligator belt. 270 fits the bill perfectly there. 533 missed out on domed crystal. Though like the fully polished dial from the sides on 533, but would attract a lots of scratches in future. 233/270 looks just perfect. Actually like the small blue second hand too but that’s only on 3 days power reserve models I guess. The ones with monopulsate and equation dails on right look too busy for a panerai. Only one small dial on left looks perfect and a small power reserve indicator at the bottom.

...I love the domed sapphire crystal look but isn’t it risky? Like I get thoughts already of my hand banging on some wall etc and cracking the beautiful crystal, god forbid. The domed crystal looks so much better and attractive than flat crystal though. But just this concern.

Also love the Pam00233 and Pam00270 look. They are the best ones and gettable in near future, being not super expensive, but the 270 has been discontinued for 533?! Like why? 533 doesn’t even have a domed crystal? 233 is great looker too but has a manual winding mechanism and the difference isn’t much between them then might as well get the 270. But since its already been discontinued....
...
So is there any other model that you’ll think fits the bill too?

Hey - welcome
A 1950 case with domed crystal is my favorite combination (as with my only two PAMs currently) I also LOVE the manual-wind 8-day mvmt and find the 10-day + automatic quite the luxury, for lack of a better term, but you've made it clear that it's a desirable complication.
270 does indeed fit your bill and there are currently 10 for sale on Chrono24 (Google it if necessary). There may be a similar model to the 270 but it will most likely be in gold or other precious metal so most likely out of your range. The 270s appear to run around €9-10K so cheaper than a new 233 (but there are 30 used up for sale on Chrono24, incl. some unworn).

I'm also assuming you appreciate the 1950 case? the alternative would be a 372-based case and/or the "1940" variant. Most of those however are equipped with the P.3001 3-day handwound mvmt, so not really what you're aiming for.

So that's all I got... maybe someone else can provide alternatives but given your "wish list" you'll probably have to go with aftermarket to find your ideal PAM. Good luck to you

p.s. Regarding the domed crystal - I'd say it's pretty robust. I've yet to hear anyone trashing it by running into a door frame etc. I wouldn't lose any sleep over that

270 does indeed fit your bill and there are currently 10 for sale on Chrono24 (Google it if necessary). There may be a similar model to the 270 but it will most likely be in gold or other precious metal so most likely out of your range. The 270s appear to run around €9-10K so cheaper than a new 233 (but there are 30 used up for sale on Chrono24, incl. some unworn).

Well first of all, the watch bug has started to bite me again but am not yet sure when I’ll be able to finally covince myself that I can allow myself a purchase again.. so soon. And till then, most 270s might run outta stock except used ones, which I’m not too keen and neither am I too keen to buy them watches online. Would prefer to go to a store, check, and then pick one myself. So preferably local market. i.e. When I do decide to buy one
Also the watches are comparatively cheaper in my country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelller

I'm also assuming you appreciate the 1950 case? the alternative would be a 372-based case and/or the "1940" variant. Most of those however are equipped with the P.3001 3-day handwound mvmt, so not really what you're aiming for.

Well, Please excuse me for being a total noob here but can you tell me what’s the difference between the luminor and luminor 1950 case exactly? I prefer the luminor/1950 series case with that famouse unique panerai adjustment crown on the right side. Don’t quite like the radiomir style much. So 1940s are outta question. And the 372 based are the 47mm units I believe? Think that’ll be too big for my wrist size. 44mm is the max I can go for I think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelller

So that's all I got... maybe someone else can provide alternatives but given your "wish list" you'll probably have to go with aftermarket to find your ideal PAM. Good luck to you

p.s. Regarding the domed crystal - I'd say it's pretty robust. I've yet to hear anyone trashing it by running into a door frame etc. I wouldn't lose any sleep over that

I’m not quite sure I understand what you mean by aftermarket Pam here?
I would decide on a 233 maybe if nothing fits my bill like 270. Also thanks for clearing the doubt about durability of the domed crystal. And thanks for taking time and answering

Personally if I have to choose between 233 or 270,I'd run towards 233,especially the dot version

Had a chance to try pre owned version of both,270 felt taller and the movement (P2003) seems less reliable than P2002 inside 233

While I don't have any watch with 10 days movement,I have 2 watches with P2002 (though no 233),both watches perform nicely (both gave me 247-248 hrs of PR with COSC standard of accuracy almost throughout the span of the PR)

Domed crystal is the stuff that made these watches interesting,so I'd stay away from the new model with flatter crystal

Well, Please excuse me for being a total noob here but can you tell me what’s the difference between the luminor and luminor 1950 case exactly? ... I’m not quite sure I understand what you mean by aftermarket...

The standalone term "Luminor" usually referes to the Bettarini case (just look at a 000 005 011 012 ...) and 1950 refers to the 233's case and similar (127, 217, 368, ...). Please Google these and you may even find a side-by-side image... .

Aftermarket = used or new via a Grey Dealer. The odds of finding a 270 at your local AD is slim to none...

Quote:

Originally Posted by synequano

...how can you say no to 1950 case with high domed sapphire??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joearch

233 is hard to beat. I think it is one if the best in production today from any brand.

Personally if I have to choose between 233 or 270,I'd run towards 233,especially the dot version

Had a chance to try pre owned version of both,270 felt taller and the movement (P2003) seems less reliable than P2002 inside 233

While I don't have any watch with 10 days movement,I have 2 watches with P2002 (though no 233),both watches perform nicely (both gave me 247-248 hrs of PR with COSC standard of accuracy almost throughout the span of the PR)

Domed crystal is the stuff that made these watches interesting,so I'd stay away from the new model with flatter crystal

After all,how can you say no to 1950 case with high domed sapphire??

Lost Paneristi in the making here !!! I am a little bit confused How come there are 2 PAMs with the same number, one with a dot and one with am/pm? what's the relation with the 270? And the one in the picture, which one is it?... I love the domed sapphire, I NEEDto have it!... is there other PAMs with domed sapphire? which ones?... I am close to a brain meltdown.. too much data absorbed in too little time

Lost Paneristi in the making here !!! I am a little bit confused How come there are 2 PAMs with the same number, one with a dot and one with am/pm? what's the relation with the 270? And the one in the picture, which one is it?... I love the domed sapphire, I NEEDto have it!... is there other PAMs with domed sapphire? which ones?... I am close to a brain meltdown.. too much data absorbed in too little time

The 233 has two generations - the original "dot" dial (the dot being either black or lume, depending if it's night or day in the "reference" timezone"). Three productions years later OP decided to change the format to the current-day "AM -PM" version. I have no idea why and while I love my 233, I find the Dot dial to be the cleanest version and in Paneristi's "keep it simple" terms, the more desirable.

Domed crystals can be found on these 1950-cased PAMs:
​127 203 217 267 ​233 289 368 ​ 270 335 ...
If I'm not mistaken, there are a few newer blued-dial beauties with domed crystals, like the 670 (Equation of Time - "372" case?), 690 & 932 ("1940" cases)

p.s. synequano's pictured PAM is the amazing 368, an 8-day with the PR-indicator on the movement side & tobacco dial. It's also a Destro like my 217.

About the 270 & 335 - they are 10-day, automatic movements. Most of the others are manual wound, 8-day mvmts or the classic 56hr ETA 6497 mvmts.

The 233 has two generations - the original "dot" dial (the dot being either black or lume, depending if it's night or day in the "reference" timezone"). Three productions years later OP decided to change the format to the current-day "AM -PM" version. I have no idea why and while I love my 233, I find the Dot dial to be the cleanest version and in Paneristi's "keep it simple" terms, the more desirable.

Domed crystals can be found on these 1950-cased PAMs:
​127 203 217 267 ​233 289 368 ​ 270 335 ...
If I'm not mistaken, there are a few newer blued-dial beauties with domed crystals, like the 670 (Equation of Time - "372" case?), 690 & 932 ("1940" cases)

p.s. synequano's pictured PAM is the amazing 368, an 8-day with the PR-indicator on the movement side & tobacco dial. It's also a Destro like my 217.

About the 270 & 335 - they are 10-day, automatic movements. Most of the others are manual wound, 8-day mvmts or the classic 56hr ETA 6497 mvmts.

Thank you so much for taking the time to make things clear to me. There is so much to learn about the PAMs, and that's the beauty of it. With all the references you gave me, I have a lot to do.. so I'll go back to my research.
Amazing pictures you are posting, keep them coming.. Thanks a lot.

I think most of the monopulsantes also have domed crystal...275,311,317 and 579...I might miss the precious metal version...I think 277 and the green dial 73x....and of course the unicorn 290 (blue dial version of 233,only 1 made)

Some radiomir 1940 like 514 and 736 also have domed crystal

Personally I like the domed crystal as it makes the watch looks streamlined and adding depth to the dial,that's why 368 is my most worn pam for two consecutive years...